Try some creative ideas for this Valentine’s Day

SAN DIEGO – Even though men comprise the majority of the “romantically-impaired,” a significant number of women are afflicted, too.

Men tend to suffer from a lack of motivation, women suffer from a lack of creativity, according to Greg Godek, a relationship expert who specializes in romantic love.

Get creative.

Forget the roses! Be as creative and as unique as possible on Valentine’s Day. Fill her car with red balloons. Mail Valentine’s cards to him at work, one-a-day for a week, suggests Godek, author of 1001 Ways To Be Romantic, the million-copy bestseller.

“Write ‘I love you’ on the bathroom mirror with soap. Make heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast. And on second thought, roses are OK – if you give them creatively,” suggests Godek. “Attach a note that includes the lyrics from a great love song.”

Godek has been counseling the “romantically-impaired” and teaching romance classes for 20 years. He has presented his Romance Seminar to the U.S. Army, taught love skills on Oprah, and counseled couples on Donahue.

Godek’s take on romance is a curious blend of the expected and unexpected: “When women hear the word ‘romance’ they think ‘love.’ When men hear ‘romance’ they think ‘sex.’ I don’t see any problem here.”

What about the popular “Mars/Venus” view of the sexes? “Bunk. Certainly men and women are different. This is news? What’s important is to see people as individuals, not as gender stereotypes.”

Not a real holiday.

And finally, Godek has a surprising observation about the Valentine “holiday” itself.

“It’s not really a holiday, now, is it? Do you get the day off work? I don’t! I think we should petition Congress to make Valentine’s Day a federal holiday.”